Welcome, Windows warrior, to the realm where Microsoft’s power meets open-source flexibility! This quest will transform your Windows machine into a development powerhouse that rivals any Unix system while retaining all the advantages of the Windows ecosystem.
By quest’s end, you’ll wield the combined might of Windows and Linux, master PowerShell automation, and command a toolkit that professional developers rely on daily.
This comprehensive setup quest will equip you with:
You’ll achieve true Windows development mastery when you can:
PowerShell is your primary spellbook for Windows automation and system management. Let’s master its advanced capabilities.
Before diving into system configuration, master these fundamental PowerShell spells:
# System Information Gathering
Get-ComputerInfo
Get-ComputerInfo | Select-Object CsTotalPhysicalMemory, OsFreePhysicalMemory
Get-CimInstance Win32_OperatingSystem
# Package Management
Get-Command *Package*
Find-Package -Source PSGallery
Install-Package -Name PackageName -Source PSGallery
# System Feature Management
Get-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online
Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName FeatureName
Essential Reference: PowerShell Cheat Sheet
Key Concepts to Master:
|Time to bridge the Windows and Linux worlds, creating a unified development environment.
Run PowerShell as Administrator (Right-click PowerShell → “Run as administrator”)
# Enable Windows Subsystem for Linux
dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux /all /norestart
# Enable Virtual Machine Platform (required for WSL2)
dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:VirtualMachinePlatform /all /norestart
⚠️ Important: Restart your computer after running these commands!
After rebooting, open PowerShell as Administrator again:
# Set WSL2 as the default version for new installations
wsl --set-default-version 2
# Update WSL kernel (if needed)
wsl --update
📖 Official Documentation: WSL Installation Guide
Option A: Microsoft Store Method (Recommended)
Option B: Manual Installation (Advanced)
# Install Debian via wsl command (recommended)
wsl --install -d Debian
# Or list all available distributions first
wsl --list --online
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
📖 Reference: WSL User Account Setup
Assemble your complete developer toolkit using modern Windows package management.
Modern Windows Package Manager: WinGet CLI Releases
# Check if WinGet is installed
winget --version
# If not installed, download from Microsoft Store or GitHub releases
Install these essential tools using WinGet:
# Code Editors and IDEs
winget install Microsoft.VisualStudioCode
winget install Git.Git
winget install GitHub.GitHubDesktop
# Web Browsers (Development)
winget install Mozilla.Firefox.DeveloperEdition
winget install Google.Chrome
# Development Tools
winget install Microsoft.PowerShell
winget install Microsoft.WindowsTerminal
winget install Docker.DockerDesktop
# Creative and Productivity Tools
winget install GIMP.GIMP
winget install Inkscape.Inkscape
winget install ShareX.ShareX
Google Cloud SDK Installation:
# Download and install Google Cloud SDK
Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "https://dl.google.com/dl/cloudsdk/channels/rapid/GoogleCloudSDKInstaller.exe" -OutFile "$env:Temp\GoogleCloudSDKInstaller.exe"
Start-Process -FilePath "$env:Temp\GoogleCloudSDKInstaller.exe" -Wait
Additional Cloud Tools:
# Azure CLI
winget install Microsoft.AzureCLI
# AWS CLI
winget install Amazon.AWSCLI.v2
# Terraform
winget install Hashicorp.Terraform
Configure seamless interaction between Windows and Linux environments.
Access Windows files from WSL:
# Windows C: drive accessible at /mnt/c/
ls /mnt/c/Users/YourUsername/
# Navigate to Windows Documents
cd /mnt/c/Users/YourUsername/Documents
Access WSL files from Windows:
\\wsl$\YourDistroName\home\yourusernameInstall the WSL extension in VS Code:
Ctrl+Shift+P → “WSL: New Window” to develop in Linux contextCreate a custom PowerShell profile:
# Check if profile exists
Test-Path $PROFILE
# Create profile if it doesn't exist
if (!(Test-Path $PROFILE)) {
New-Item -Type File -Path $PROFILE -Force
}
# Edit your profile
notepad $PROFILE
Add useful aliases and functions:
# Useful aliases
Set-Alias -Name ll -Value Get-ChildItem
Set-Alias -Name grep -Value Select-String
Set-Alias -Name which -Value Get-Command
# Quick WSL access function
function wsl-home {
wsl ~
}
# Git shortcuts
function gs { git status }
function ga { git add . }
function gcm($msg) { git commit -m $msg }
Configure Windows Terminal for optimal development:
Sample Terminal Profile:
{
"name": "Ubuntu-20.04",
"source": "Windows.Terminal.Wsl",
"startingDirectory": "//wsl$/Ubuntu-20.04/home/yourusername",
"colorScheme": "Campbell",
"fontSize": 12,
"font": {
"face": "Cascadia Code"
}
}
Set up important environment variables:
# System-wide variables (run as Administrator)
[Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable("DEVELOPMENT_ROOT", "C:\Development", "Machine")
# User-specific variables
[Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable("GITHUB_USERNAME", "yourusername", "User")
Quest Series: Init World - Platform Mastery
Prerequisite Quests:
Follow-Up Quests:
Parallel Quests (can be completed in any order):
You have successfully transformed your Windows machine into a professional development powerhouse! You now wield the combined power of Windows productivity and Linux flexibility, backed by modern package management and automation capabilities.
With your powerful Windows development environment, you’re ready to:
Your Windows development fortress is now complete! You’ve mastered the art of blending Microsoft’s innovation with open-source power. Continue your journey with confidence, knowing you have one of the most versatile and powerful development environments available.
Ready to build something amazing? Your enhanced Windows environment awaits your creativity! ⚔️✨